Submerged tunnel combined with means and method of laying the same for use in connection with railways and the like



July 27 1926. 1,593,811 L.. T. GODFREY-EVANS SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMBINEDWITH MEANS AND METHOD OF LAYING THE SAME] FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITHRAILWAYS AND THE LIKE Filed March 22. 1921 11 Sheets-Sheet l Maw/WEB IGEOFEEY-EMZV5 July 27,1926. 1,593,871

L. T. GODFREY-EVANS SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMBINED WITH MEANS AND METHOD OFLAYING THE SAME FUR USE IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE FiledMarch 22. 1921 11 Sheets-Shet' 2 July 27 1926. 7 1,593,871

L. T. GODFREY-EVANS SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMBINED WITH MEANS AND METHOD OFLAYING THE SAME FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE FiledMarch 22. 1921 11 Sheets-Sheet s /lY/E E. ,4 77 600/ 55) EVA July 271926.

' 1,593,871 L. T. GODFREY-EVANS YING THE 5mm SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMBINEDWITH MEANS AND METLIOD OF LA FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAYS AND THELIKE Filed March 22 1921 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 An. 600 FEE) Era/VS m/7 July27 1926. 1,593,871

L. T. GODFREY- SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMBINED WITH MEANS AND LAYING THE SAMEFOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAYS ANDTHE LIKE F11 ed March 22. 1921 llSheets-Sheet 5 July 27 ,1926. 1,593,871

L. T. GODFREY-EVANS SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMBINED WITH MEANS AND METHOD OFLAYING THE SAME FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE FiledMarch 22. 1921 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 July 27 L. T. GQDFREY-EVANS SUBMERGEDTUNNEL COMBINED WITH MEANS AND METHOD OF LAYING THE SAME l1 Sheets-Sheet7 Filed March 22. 1921 FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE//y/f/y 70,6

July 27 1926. 1,593,871

. L. T. GODFREY-EVANS SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMBINED WITH MEANS AND METHOD OFLAYING THE SAME FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAYS AND .THE LIKE FiledMarch 22. 1921 11 Sheets-Sh'et' 8 July 27, 1926. V 1,5933% L. T.GODFREY-EVANS SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMBINED WITH MEANS AND METHOD OF LAYINGTHE SAME FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAYS AND THE: LIKE Filed March22. 1921 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 A77 GOOFIPEK- Era/v5 July 27,1926 7 3,8

L. T GODFREY-EVANS SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMBINED WITH MEANS AND METHOD OFLAYING THE SAME FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE FiledMarch 22 1921 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 ZLMJ A mrz/vra R.

July 27 1926 1,593,871

L. T. GODFREY-EVANS SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMBINED WITH MEANS AND METHOD OFLAYING THE SAME FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE FiledMarch 22. 1921 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented July 27, 1926.

UNITED STAT...S PATENT QFECE.

LEWIS THOMAS GODFREY-EVANS, OF WEST NORWOOT), LGNDON, ENGLANJI:

SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMBINED 'iR ITH MEANS AND METHOD OF LAYING THE SAMEFOR USE IN CONNECTION llAILV/AYS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed March 22, 1921, Serial No. 454,601, and in GreatBritain February 21, 1921.

in the desired position, and to methods of laying the same.

The objects of the present invention relate to improvements in themethods of con struction and assemblage adopted which will considerablyfacilitate the work of those employed, to provide improved means fordrainage and ventilation and to facilitate intercoinmunication betweenadjacent tunnels.

The invention consists in a method of layt'unnels formed ofpreconstructed secions which are transported and lowered in place andwhich involves the embodiment of a movable bulkhead or abutment afterthe sections are in place, which bulkhead is adapted to be moved forwardto expel the water from the tunnel as the worker laying the sectionsproceeds.

The invention also comprises other details and arrangei'nentshereinafter described or indicated.

The accon'ipanying drawings illustrate several modes of carrying theinvention into a i Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, showingtunnel sections with a gauging or setting template arranged in advanceof the foremost section.

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged plan of the template shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing the shore end ofthe tunnel.

Figure 41- is a front elevation of the setting template shown in Figure1.

Figure 5 is a side elevation.

Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged views showing the communicating doorsbetween adjacent tunnels.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is an enlarged section of a detail.

Figures 10 and 11 are views showing the method of operation of one formof movable abutment hereinafter referred to.

Figure 12 is a longitudinal section through the tunnel showing in detailone form of movable abutment that may be employed.

Figure-13 is a fragmentary end elevation of Figure 12.

Figure 1 1 is a similar view to Figure 12,. showing a modified andpreferred arrangement of abutment.

Figure 15 is a longitudinal section of a part of the tunnel. showingconvenient draining and ventilating arrangements and one form ofabutment that may be used.

Figure 16 is a sectional plan of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a transverse section through adjacent tunnels.

Figure 18 is a transverse sectional View of the drain tanks employed.

Figure 19 is a vertical sectional view of the valve used in connectionwith the drain tank shown in Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a similar View of the valve but taken on a line at rightangles to that of Figure 19.

Figure is a detailed sectional view showing the manner of uniting themeeting ends of the sections of the outer shell or casing.

Figures 22 and 23 are a longitudinal sectional elevationv and a rearelevation (taken at two different points) showing a modification.

In carrying my invention into effect in one convenient manner whenconstructing a submarine tunnel, I provide upon each shore a caisson aof suitable form and construction, as well understood in the art, andfrom each of which the operations may be carried forward. The caissonswill be properly designed to suit the tides (high and low tides beingshown at a and a in Figure 3), and where required buoys b of suitableform may be employed for indicating the line of direction of the sitesof the two shore ends of the tunnel.

In the description which follows, it will be understood. that a pair ofadjacent tunnels is to be constructed, but it will be clear that themethods of procedure adopted in accordance with the invention may beequally applied with one or any number of tunnels.

Each "tunnel preferably consists of an outer shell or casing 0 ofreinforced metal or may be reinforced concrete or other compositematerial adapted to surround an 1nner shell or casing cl formed ofsegmental or other plates of suitable material, the annular spacebetween the shells or casings being filled in with any suitable filling.material 6.

The c t r ee s ca i are consists-tel on land or in dry docl: and areorovideo with spigot ends 0 and don le-lippcd socket ends 0 for joiningtogether, or, in the preferred mode of cor i U tl-rough-bolts a Inoperation, the double-lipped so l-zets ere tilled with grouting in linebinding roateria prior to the r of the sec tions into their required oin order to provide nrecorstrueted secti may in posit on I employ a rplate 7 which rnzy be h Q or]: in o; 1y suitable manner with suitablefore ant aft anc l levels 7" and a suitable number of .i/paced andadjustable gauge feet or dogs 9, carrieu upon the nut-operated screwshanks g, the arrangement being such that b la up as and 1s V r ccura 3adjusting the go igefeet, tie g: be I'll: do to bed down upon the sea l.i

I being accurately leve'lleo by means th levels, it being understoodthat, if necessary or desirable, any 5 iitable excavation may bepreviously etfeeted for the purpose of more nearly levelling the seabottom. The gauge may be accu lly set in relation to the previously laidtunnel ction by neans or a tapered hilcruu'i end 17%, adapted to be laidupon the invert or lip of such section and when once the correctposition of the gauge has been determined, it n ay be aiser 2111C landedon :1; suitable platform and tr positioned over corresponding if daleset ting gauge similarly constructed which is then adjusted to theposithns or the dogs organ-go feet on the first mentioned settingtemplate. which latter is then ren'ioved.

The outer shell of the newt tunnelsection is placed over the femalesetting gauge and the supporting arms or legs i of the section are cutoff to tie "errors depths indi cnted by the; set

ch outer she l finally rest I so that when the W'ttl' it til re retpnredl L position. Th sect o aid in place by ballaating whicl' may arrangedbetween s as shown at l: (Figure "When one secti n has ieen th l it thenex succeeding section may oe laid in a similar manner, the Q unitedto'gie'hcr in the manner above indicated. The feet or supporting or theshells may also be suite ly secured to the align tr nch concrete e succeispensin A t) can c es,

the m tee eate shells Will.

be elle'dted and in order to en hle the interior work in he tunnels tohe proceeded with shnultaney 1 provide the first laid section a oleabutment or lullrhead whi h is adapter" to expel the water from suchsection uni l inoved forward gradually as sncceer ions are laid and asthe in- 1 so thai the latter may i be carried 0 workmen, while teriorYou proceeds ut by ordinary only the lay rig the shells and the externalwork will 0 be done by diver".

have

It will of coin. e be understood that alter he individual tunne sectionshave been coniztructed on a dry site, they may be trans- )orted intoposition to be sunk by any well 'non'n avai :le means and aliue'd withthe aid of covers. After the previously constructed sections have beenaccurately niade through the uue of the gauge or template f the el ningthe sections becomes a simple in t V nvenient form of movable abutmentis n in 12 and con' 7, ot a ght drum or piston Z provided on itsCllll'l'fltfl'lCG with supporting: travel-- temporarily securcrwithn'ieans of taut and slam to any suitable interior the tunnel. Undu'a suitto prevent rearward dish'uin or piston, the water is so ti\Ytrllilllt-Pll can]. it the i (Z and composite or corn or \ithin' theonter shell a be P" tion in the manner lits tie worl: a li h ls,t"- tautchains on e iiston or drum until the e will u. operation bein r-cpeetenas the piston is r 1 1 by the -'irpressure, the

c i 'l at interval. to internal other fittings fennel on r l plateswhich in t 1 l 3-!- other seeurii may be employed.

place 0" employing a single piston as; ion 1 in Aigure 12 I may adoptthe ar- .1 in Figure 14 where ha ment Show Y 1 ie two pistons unitetogether by a perforated rigidpipe or oth r connection 7) so that obtainbet veen the "pistons a body oi cunpressedo'r this arrangement having;obvious advantages in operation ascompared with the single piston abovereferred to.

The movable abutnientof either Figure 12 or Figure. 1% is. progressivelypushed forward by the air pressure from suitable source being; forcedintosuiteble air forined'in the rear of the abutment t of detachable andbuilt-up diaphragins g secured at suitable intervals as shown in Figure14;. The diaphragms, which are secured in position by workmen, areprovidet with doors or other fittings or adjustn'ien'ts for conveyanceof high pressure air to the advanced headings. The piston or dr= n isprovided with suitable packing rings r, to prevent or minimize leakageof the head of water in one direction and of the air in the forwarddirection, the packing being similar in principle or action to thepacking employed in hydraulic pistons or rams. Each of the pistons ordrums is hollow and is provided with inner and outer manholes s, t andair connection fittings for the divers so that they can gain access tothe inside of the drum and then shut the inner manhole and proceedthrough the outer manhole into the open head of water for inspection orworking purposes.

An emergency air valve to is provided in communication with the interiorof the pie ton so that the said interior may be subjected to airpressure as and when desired, and an air and Water pressure gauge '0 isalso provided on the piston, as also lubrication means to for the pistonpacking.

In an alternative arrangement of movable abutment, shown in Figures 9,10, 11 and 15, I employ a system of two or more in flatable andcollapsible balloons m which are adapted to form pistons within theouter shells and are each connected independently by a correspondingseries of telescopic high pressure air pipes 50 (Figure 9) which slideupon each other in such a manner that on deflating or collapsing theforemost balloon by suitable exhaust air valve 2 (Figures 9 and 11)connected to the corresponding air pipe :0 for that particular balloon,the latter by means of its rearwardly eX- tending air pipe may be pushedforward in the bore of the outer shell to the nest suitable position andthen inflated to form an air-tight piston or bulkhead. The rearmostballoon is then deflated or collapsed and by means of its correspondingair supply pipe 02 is pushed forward to the then inflated balloon andalso inflated, thus forming a piston in conjunction with theiirstballoon to keep the water out of the outer shell in which constructionthe operations are being carried on.

The manner of operating the balloons will be sufficiently clear from theforegoing description and from a consideration of Fig ures 9, l0 and 11and the manner of bra-cing and supporting the balloons with bracingplates and flexible stays and the manner of supplying compressed airthereto and arranging the telescopic or other supply pipes may besuitably modified according to any particular practical requirements.

For the purpose of establishing communication between adjacent tunnels,I may provide any number of communicating passages 1 (Figures 6 to S)and the doorways of such communicating passages are provided with adouble pair of hinged doors 2-, 3, the one pair of doors being spacedapr rt from the other pair and the doors being arranged so that theyoverlap one another when opened in the manner shown clearly in Figure 8.One pair of doors is provided. near the top with a carrying bracket orrecess adapter to receive a cross bar l which when in posi tion isadapted to normally secure each pair of doors in the open positionagainst the action of spring hinges E2 tending to close the doors. Inthe passage or doorway or in any other convenient position there isprovided a well 5 adapted to receive a float 6 having fixed or pivotallyconnected to its upper end an upright tripping bar 7, which latter, atits upper end, is adapted to engage the cross bar at, the construction,arrangement and mode of operation being such that in case the tunnel towhich such water-tight doors are fitted becomes flooded with water thelatter will find its way into the well 5, thus causing the float to riseand with it the tripping bar 7 which in turn disengages the cross-bar 1-from the securing brackets or recesses on one pair of doors so that thelatter are released and by the action of the closing springs and of theinfiowing water behind either pair of doors in either direction, the onepair of doors which has obtained the initial start by means of the closing springs is finally closed by the inflow of water and the flow ofwater through such doors is thereby effectually prevented.

With the object of securing adequate draining arrangements for thetunnels, I provide at intervals along the tunnels and under thepermanent way thereof a series of water-tight drain tanks 8 as shown inFigures 17 and 18 having adjacent thereto corresponding water traps 9each provided vith a battle plate 10, a perforated plate 11 and a reflexor non-return valve 12 leading into the tank. Upper drains at eitherside of the tunnel lead unto the water traps from which the water isdischarged into the drain tanks along the permanent way. Along the sideof each tunnel there is provided a high pressure air supply pipe 13connected by branch pipes to each drain tank by means of a valve fitting14- within the tank having a weighted float 15 adapted to raise thevalves 1% off their seats as the accumulating water in the drain tankraises the float.

At the top of the drain tank there is valve 16 adapted to close or opencorresponding air vents through the action of the float 17 and at thebottom of each drain tank is a discharge pipe 18 leading into reflex ornon-return valve 19 (shown in detail in Figure 20) which in turn neat-edto an emergency valve 21 o by red 21 and wheel 21" (which in detail inFigure 19). hen it is desued to i'crce water out of the trap 8 the 23valve 202l is manually unseatcd 3y anipm'.ating the rod 21 through tlreel 21 to thereby establish commumcm on between the d? charge pipe andthe outer body of water. l i ith reference to the manner iwhich theemergency valve is installed may be pointed outthat the cem 'al boss onthe valve is titted with a dcta-hab cutter of suitable form which whentl valve casing is bolted to the inner to casing; is utilized to cut ahole oomph es any air supply release valve the latter adapted to beopened and closed by the application of any suitable mechanical orelectrical means or by clockwork or pneumatic or hydraulic means.

lhe arrangement of such is that drain water drains into the tanks thewater on rising therein eventually closes the valve 16 and-in successionthe weighted Heat 15 raises the valves h oil their seats so that any airpressure already generated in the drain tank by the action of the risingwater is reinforced by the air pressure from the high pressure. airsupply pipe 13 in such a manner that the water accumulated within thetank 8 is forced through the coruspending discharge pipe 18, relies: ornonreturn valve 19 and then through the emergency valve 21 into theexterior body or he d of water.

In addition to thus providing an adequate draining means for thetunnels, the same may be ei'iiciently ventilated by means of thecompressed air which is used for flushing the drain tanks.

An imp rtant modification of the invention is illustrated in Figures anea. by the use 01"- such modification or by the use or the other formssimilarly arranged and modified, it is possible to lay subn'iergedtunnels ll all y depth of water in such a manner that when so laid,ordinary workmen shall be able to carry on all operations for acompletely equipped tunnel at an air pressure no greater than that ofthe atmosphere. This arrangement is the reverse oi that usuallyadopted,- wherin the pressure at the we mg face is suilicien ehstand thepressure head 01" a water" or Quicksandand the pressure" is gtdiiallyreduced by the provision at successive air locks proceeding -.:way fromthe face.

In the 01111 shown in Figures and 2?) I provide three pistons Z similarto those previ ously described anu connected in pairs by the perforatedpipes or the like p, the pisstons thus forming two chambers within whichis air under pressure and movement of the system b pistons under theinfluence of the pressure head at the working "face prevented by anysuitable form of stays or abutments situated behind the rcarmost piston.For example, the latter may be supported by a. number of hydraulic orother fluid pressure operated rams Z working in hydraulic cylinders Zcarried by a framework mounted upon and adapted to be mover. by

suitably arranged portable carriage or Z which are t to iastenedtemporarily any part of the cast iron rim or flange ot the inner casingring whilst the rams Z act on the face or the rear piston with a totalforce equal at least to the total force due to the hydrostatic or otherpressure head acting on the face of the leading abutment.

On increasing the working pressure on the rams by means an electricallyactuated or other suitable hydraulic pump or other means the pistonsystem will be advanced with more or less speed as the working pres sureis incr ased. The whole series of rams act accordingly to force forwardthe pie-- ton system along the outer casing for a dis an'ce equal to thestroke of the rams when preparations are at once proceeded with for thenext advance by separately and consecutively detaching in turn eachhydraulic cylinder and sliding same along its guide orojecting from thesupporting frame work until it reaches and is inserted into the nextadvanced recess formed by the ring; flanges of the tunnel and so on foreach ot the remaining c jllhClQlS whereby the portable carriage ispushed forward and secured so that the whole will be ready for the nextadvance. in the ncantime the workmen proceed to fix the next ring ofsegn'iental cast iron plates, bolt up, and grout with cem nt the annularspace between the inner and outer shells. With such an arrangement per--inittiug the workmen to work under normal conditions the air locks inrear of the workmen may be provided but in this case they will berequired for emergency purposes only.

It will be clear that such a system of hydraulic or other stays orabutments may be employed with any number of pistons or with any otherof the forms of apparatus hereinbeto're described, it being noted thatthe number of pistons or abutments will in general be determined by thedepth at which the tunnel is to be laid, as, for example, wh ntunnelling under the English Channel t number of pistons; 01.-

abutments would probably be less than that required for tunnellingacross the Irish Sea owing to the greater depth of the latter comparedwith the English Channel.

it is to be understoortl t at the inVe-it'on is not to be limited to theforegoing details of construction which are given by Way of iilustrationonly, as the invention is broadly applirable to the construction of anysubaqueous or submerged tunnel and the number, size and mode ofconstruction of the tunnels, the means adopted for ventilating anddraining the same and for establishing in terconnnunication between thetunnels, and the materials employed in the construction of the variousparts as also the means adopted for securing successive sectionstogether and for locking and holding the same in position, may all bevariously modified as may be found necessary or desirable having regardto any practical requirements that may have to be fulfilled.

1. A method of laying submerged tunnels which consists in determiningthe character of the sea bottom by sinking gauges which may be adjustedto support the body of the gauge in a level position, next carrying thegauges to a dry site and positioning the same over a correspondingfemale setting gauge, then placing the outer shell of the tunnel sectionto be formed over the female setand constructing the same withsupporting'arms or legs wl ch may be out to the depth indicated by thesetting go, and subsequently floating the preconstr ucted section toposition and sinking the same to rest on the sea bed.

2. A bulkhead unit for submerged tunnel constructions consisting of awater tight piston provided on its outer circumference with supportingtraveling wheels and a pair of taut and slack chains connected to thepiston and anchored within the tunnel.

3. A submerged tunnel construction proviued at intervals along thetunnel with a series of water tight drain tanks, water traps adjacentthe tanks, a non-return valve for said trap, air supply pipescommunicating with each drain tank, and a discharge pipe including anon-return valve communicating with the bottom of the drain tank,whereby water accumulating therein may be expelled outside of the tunnelby air pressure.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature hereto this 2nd day ofMarch, 1921.

LEWIS THOMAS GODFREY-EVANS.

